Dangerous Reading?

Dangerous Reading?

The 25th annual Banned Books Week is Sept. 23-30. The American Library
Association says each book below has been pulled from some libraries
or schools. You'll be surprised by the list. Why were Garfield and a
dictionary deemed dangerous? Visit parade.com.

The Adventures of Captain Underpants-causes unruly behavior

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn-racist language

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl-sexually explicit

The Catcher in the Rye-offensive language

Garfield: His Nine Lives-banned from kids' section of library only:
offensive language

The Handmaid's Tale-sexually explicit

Harry Potter (entire series)-occult

Little Red Riding Hood-bottle of wine in basket for Grandma

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary-offensive language

To Kill a Mockingbird-racist language

A number of other books have been removed because of provocative
pictures, racist or explicit language, or controversial ideas.
Sometimes the books are "challenged"-that is, individuals request to
have them removed-but the challenge is overruled, and the books
remain. There have been more than 8,700 reported book challenges since
1990. Among those challenged: Mother Goose, Freakonomics, The Bible
and Fahrenheit 451. "The reason more books aren't banned is because
community residents-with librarians, teachers and journalists -speak
out for their freedom to read," said ALA President Leslie Burger.

To learn more, and for details about Banned Books Week (September
23-30), visit www.ala.org/bbooks. The American Library Association
says this week is a great time to read a classic book.

http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2006/edition_09-10-2006/Intell...nce_Rep